An Unforgettable Journey to France: My Showjumping Adventure with Lucy Olphert Showjumping

Travelling to France for a showjumping adventure with the well-known rider Lucy Olphert was a dream come true for me. As the lucky recipient of Lucy's virtual sponsorship, I eagerly anticipated meeting and riding with her in person. Little did I know that my time in France would exceed all expectations, providing me with unforgettable memories, valuable skills, and lifelong friendships.

The Stables - A Dream Come True:

I was so excited when we got to the stables that I could barely hold it all. The atmosphere was filled with a buzz, and I felt an instant connection to the show-jumping world. We would be spending our time at Center Equestre de la Houssaye.

Inspirational Figures - Michel Ismalun, Etienne Ismalun, and Jaimie Campbell:

Throughout my trip, I had the privilege of riding alongside accomplished equestrians like Michel Ismalun and Etienne Ismalun. Their expertise and passion for the sport were inspirational, and learning from them was an invaluable experience. The New Zealand selections coach, Jaimie Campbell, was also a significant highlight. Her guidance and coaching improved my riding skills and instilled the confidence to reach new heights.

Meeting Tina Wallace - A Content Creator Extraordinaire

An unexpected delight during my trip was spending time with Tina Wallace, a successful equestrian content creator. Her work has inspired me, and meeting her in person was a surreal experience. Tina's insights and advice on navigating the world of equestrian content creation were incredibly helpful. Learning from someone who had succeeded in the industry was an honour!

Award-Winning Moments - The Social Media Award

One of the trip's most memorable moments was being recognized with the Social Media Award. I had been sharing my journey on social media, documenting the training experience and bonding with the horses and fellow riders. To have my efforts acknowledged was both humbling and rewarding!

Achieving Showday Goals

Showday was undoubtedly the best day of my trip. Under Jaimie Campbell's guidance, the stallion, Falcom, and I set a challenging goal of completing our round with a time of 78 seconds. With determination and the support of our team, we achieved our goal with a time of 78.10 seconds. It was a proud moment, and I will forever remember the sense of accomplishment that followed. We also managed to pin a second place and come home with a ribbon for our efforts!

Unforgettable Bonds and Lessons Learned

Beyond the show ring, my time in France allowed me to form lifelong friendships with fellow riders and trainers. We shared our passion for showjumping, laughter, and stories and had lots of moments where we were just horse-crazy kids learning and having so much fun together.

The journey taught me skills on and off the horse. The dedication, discipline, and perseverance required in showjumping extended into various aspects of my life, making me more focused and confident.

My trip to France with Lucy Olphert was nothing short of extraordinary. From riding incredible horses and learning from equestrian greats to making friends with others worldwide, every aspect of the experience was transformative. I am immensely grateful for the opportunity and will carry the memories and lessons with me forever. This journey has fueled my passion for showjumping, and I am excited to continue my pursuit of excellence.

Thank you to all of the people who helped me get to France. Every thoughtful gesture, financial support, and encouraging word made my experience one I will never forget.

Thank you to the other riders and their families for being the most amazing people to spend my time with. You all became like family, and I look forward to a reunion tour sometime soon!

Thank you, Lucy and Global Amateur Tour, for creating amazing opportunities for those wishing to expand on our riding experiences. These tours are life-changing, and I can't express how much they are worth going on!

There were so many amazing things that we got to experience on the trip, that I have come back to update this post for those wondering about the things we did. Every trip is different and it's own unique experience so just because I got to see or do something doesn't mean the same trip the following year would have the same experiences.

We rode 2x a day on different horses. Our coaches were Lucy, Jaimie, Michel and Ettienne. I loved learning from all of them as they all brought different lessons for us.

I rode everything from ponies, young horses, and grand prix schoolmasters, and Falcom was a stallion.

We had sessions in mental preparedness for competition, course design, sponsorship and social media, horse purchasing, and daily workouts tailored to rider fitness.

Our sightseeing included Versailles and Monet Gardens; there was a day trip to Paris, but I opted to stay at the stable and exercise horses with Ettienne and a few other girls. We also attended a 5* show where we walked the course at the Chantilly Masters.

Photo credits to Nicole Marie Photography Co and Colraine Capture